I arrived at the event and spent sometime warming up and stretching and talking with other runners...before I knew it, it was time to line up...
I always go toward the back because I am not a fast runner and I believe in walk breaks as needed...my plan had been to run a mile and then walk 2 minutes...that put walk breaks at water stations....
As we started out, it became clear really quick that this was going to be a very hilly race, with more uphill than downhill! I train on hills, but these were mini mountains with some of the incline lasting for two miles!! Nothing like that to train on where I live! There was one good downhill segment a little over halfway through..
Miles 1-4 I followed my plan pretty well...was doing pretty good, holding my own at least...then I saw a runner go off course and fall to the ground. I am not a competitive person, I am a compassionate person and that led me to turn back to go check on her. She was okay, just needed a break, her pulse was fast, I gave her a water bottle I had in my fuel pack and told her to call for the EMT on the course if she needed. (I had already offered to go get one for her and she said no.) Then I resumed my race. Mile 5 and 6 I just ran straight then we hit a two mile incline that seemed it would never end. I walked some of it and enjoyed a banana and water...then started running again. I honestly don't know where the energy came from because then I didn't want to walk anymore. I would grab some water and keep going. I felt really strong going into mile 10, then started having some major cramps in my quads from all the uphill running I imagine and had to walk a little. At mile 11 the cramps eased up and I could run again. I know I had a prayer partner praying for that mile and I truly felt it as I ran that mile...at the top of mile 12 two of the suppport people came out to run with me and the other gilr close to me...it was what we needed to make it up that hill without stopping, then the finish line was down the next hill.
I didn't look at my watch as we started and ran the whole race thinking I was running slow, but when I crossed the finish line and saw the 2:29:15 I was shocked! Found out we started about 8 minutes late! So I had pushed because I had a time goal of 2:30, but was realistic enough to say I would be okay with anytime!
This was an awesome half! Yes it is the only one I have done, but I can say I will do it again! The volunteers were amazing, the support over the top! registration was 45$ when i registered in Feb. I got a nice fleet feet bag filled with goodies...gu, protien bars, recovery bars, my tech shirt and then all the goodies today during and after the race. They had water/gatorade tables at every mile marker with tons of people to hand it to you so there was no bottle neck getting to it. At mile 6 they had fruit, bagels, gu, and carb bars along with the water/gatorade, mile 9 had cold wet towels to help you cool down and then again at the finish line you had a cold towel ready for you! The after party consisted of a live DJ, free beer (I am not a beer drinker), pizza, fruit, bagels, hydration water, water, soda, and cotton candy! There awas street dancing and yes, this I like!
Whiel all of the goodies was great and made for a good race, it was truly the support along the way that would bring me back. It is a tough course, but they had people at every corner to cheer us on, signs posted all over the place that had little motivational thoughts on them, even messages written on the pavement as you ran over them you could read. The course was clearly marked, the EMT's were visible on their bikes if you needed them and the police were great with traffic control. It seemed like just when you wanted to stop you would come on a cheering station and they would pull you through! A very well done even that has a returning runner for however long I continue to run!
I don't know what the future holds and someone told me once not to plan my next big race until a couple of weeks after this one. If it was a good experience you may commit to something that you will regret, a bad expereince or soreness and you may not commit and regret it...however, I told a friend that if I ran this half in under 3 hours, I would begin training for a full...so I will train for a full...I am not committing to a set race yet, but yes i have one in mind..we will see where I am in the next few months with training, before I commit!
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